Support – Victorian Primary Care Partnership

The future of Victorian PCPs is uncertain when the current funding and service agreement expires in December 2020.

As catchment-based voluntary alliances of health and community support service providers, we have worked together for 20 years to maximise health and wellbeing outcomes, promote health equity and avoid unnecessary hospital presentations and admissions.

We understand our communities because we are members of them. That means we can respond directly to their needs.

Despite 20 successful years, the partnerships are under threat. In a changing health landscape, our work is sometimes misunderstood or assumed to be undertaken by other organisations. That’s why we need your support!

Contact your local member

PCPs connect more than 850 organisations across health, education, community service and local government with local communities.

PCPs share skills and harness resources to find solutions to local health and wellbeing challenges.

PCPs are often the key health infrastructure in rural communities where the number of services has significantly declined.

PCPs support the delivery of over 20 state government strategies, actively embedding government policy and reform in local communities through more than 150 distinct initiatives.

PCPs stand ready to continue delivering outcomes for Victorian communities.

We call on Minister Mikakos to commit to continuing Primary Care Partnerships’ modest funding for the benefit of all Victorians.

Take action to #SecurePCPsFuture

Phone or visit your local member, or write to them by tailoring our suggested letter
Share our media releases and other resources with your members and local media
See an example of a response to commentary on discontinuation of PCPs by the Board Chair of HealthWest PCP here
Post and share content on Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn and other social media using the hashtag #SecurePCPsFuture, and ask your partners / community to do the same
Add the campaign banner to your website and email signature with a link to the campaign page

Media releases

16 October 2019: Review welcomed as Primary Care Partnerships win temporary reprieve
3 October 2019: Communities will lose out if Primary Care Partnerships are defunded
11 September 2019: Primary Care Partnerships lead community change and should not be cut

Resources

Contributing to better health and wellbeing outcomes for our communities: Examples from around Victoria (September 2019)

Primary Care Partnerships value add and return on investment (September 2019): Infographic, text and downloadable social media images

Primary Care Partnerships, who we are and what we do (December 2018): Infographic

Exemplar Primary Care Partnership initiatives: A snapshot of activity across Victoria (March 2019)

Making the invisible visible. A report into the partnership approach of seven rural & regional primary care partnerships in Victoria (January 2019)

Other resources

#SecurePCPsFuture in the media

30 October 2019: Grampians Pyrenees PCP’s funding is extended until the end of June 2020 (The Stawell Times News)
18 October 2019: Regional health partnership still unclear (The Swan Hill Guardian)
17 October 2019: Primary care partnerships funding yet to be continued by government (Riverine Herald)
8 October 2019: Funding needed to continue primary care partnership’s work (Mirage News)
27 September 2019: PCPs across western Victoria have no guaranteed funding past 2019 (Ararat Advertiser)
24 September 2019: Funding cuts not healthy (Wangaratta Chronicle)
24 September 2019: Health partnership faces funding cuts (North Central and Whittelsea Review)
19 September 2019: Left in limbo (The Spectator Greater Hamilton)
16 September 2019: Primary care funding (WIN News Ballarat)
16 September 2019: Health group’s future unclear (Portland Observer)
16 September 2019: Health Minister lashes Roma Britnell over ‘false’ PCP funding cut claims (The Standard)
13 September 2019: Wimmera Primary Care Partnership’s uncertain future (The Wimmera Mail-Times)

Other recent news…

18 May 2020: 20 Years Helping Improve Regional Health, Wellbeing (Wangaratta Chronicle)
24 October 2019: Rise. Resist. Unite. Dance! … 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (Midland Express)
22 October 2019: Age-friendly forums help groups to be more inclusive of older people (Mirage News)
21 October 2019: Tastes of the world on show (Latrobe Valley Express)
13 October 2019: Gambler’s Help referrals in Campaspe rise (Bendigo Advertiser)
9 October 2019: Connecting with local women over a cuppa (The Adviser)
8 October 2019: New sports stadium for Epping under Casa D’Abruzzo Club deal (Star Weekly Northern)
30 September 2019: Expo highlights opportunities (The News Bayside)
17 September 2019: Central Gippsland Health to trial light therapy glasses for shift workers (Gippsland Times and Maffra Spectator)
12 September 2019: Wimmera mental health advocate Lauren Dempsey encourages others to reach out (The Stawell Times News)
12 September 2019: Ararat hosts R U OK? Day event (Ararat Advertiser)
12 September 2019: Halls Gap’s Budja Budja medical clinic launches new mobile clinic van in region (The Stawell Times News)

Joanne Harrison-Clarke is a proud Wotjobaluk woman and Traditional Owner who has worked with Wimmera PCP on delivering Cultural Awareness training and making mainstream health services more accessible for the Aboriginal community. We asked Joanne what impact the work of Wimmera PCP has had on her community, and why this work is important for the future. Dan Andrews Jenny Mikakos MP #securepcpsfuture
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Wednesday, 18 September 2019

What would it mean to Woomelang Bush Nursing Centre if Wimmera PCP weren't here in the future…
Woomelang Bush Nursing Centre is located in the top of the Yarriambiack Shire, approximately 1.5 hours from Horsham, in fact the closest major town for this Wimmera agency is Swan Hill at an hour away. Woomelang has a visiting GP once a fortnight and for anything else medical people have to travel. If there is an emergency then you leave by air (hopefully). We asked Carol this week what it would mean for them if Wimmera PCP weren't here in the future? #securepcpsfuture
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Thursday, 19 September 2019

What it means to Harrow Bush Nursing Centre if Wimmera PCP wasn't here…
Wimmera Primary Care Partnership are so thankful for the support they have received from Partner agencies and the Community. We are very grateful.Ann Vaughan from Harrow Bush Nursing Centre adds her support.
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Sunday, 22 September 2019

Wimmera PCP’s Chair, Tracey Chenoweth, has been involved in the Primary Care Partnership since its inception. Tracey discusses the impact of the PCP and the value of collaboration in delivering our projects. Dan Andrews Jenny Mikakos MP #SecurePCPsFuture
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Wednesday, 2 October 2019

As the future of Victorian PCPs is uncertain, with our funding beyond December 2019 being threatened, Wimmera PCP Chair Tracey Chenoweth discusses the impact PCPs have at a state level. This includes partnerships with academia, local government and delivering on 20 state government policies and reforms. Dan Andrews Jenny Mikakos MP #SecurePCPsFuture
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Thursday, 3 October 2019

Ngareta Melgran – What is the value of Wimmera PCP?
Wimmera PCP have been working to deliver the Rural Outreach Program, a mental health initiative with local Rural Outreach Workers who have the capacity to respond to the immediate needs of anyone in the community who is having a tough time. Across the Wimmera Southern Mallee Shires, Rural Outreach Workers have worked with over 100 clients since December 2018, by assisting them with finding the right health and community services to suit their needs. Dan Andrews Jenny Mikakos MP #SecurePCPsFuture
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Sunday, 6 October 2019

What would happen if PCPs weren't around?
With threats to the funding of PCPs looming, Ngareta Melgran discusses what would happen if Wimmera PCP weren't around, and the value of partnerships in getting the Rural Outreach Program up and running.Dan Andrews Jenny Mikakos MP #SecurePCPsFuture
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Sunday, 6 October 2019

Wimmera PCP has been involved in assisting in the establishment of Men’s Sheds all over the region. Charlie Ferrier of Kaniva Men’s Shed, which now has 51 members, discusses PCP’s involvement and how invaluable knowledge and support was provided. Dan Andrews Jenny Mikakos MP #SecurePCPsFuture
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Wednesday, 9 October 2019

Telehealth
The Wimmera Cancer Teleheathcare Project, delivered by Wimmera PCP, focused on bringing cancer care closer to patients in the region utilising the Healthdirect Video Call platform. This means that patients saved time and travel costs by having their appointments at their local healthcare service or in some cases, at home. We are continuing to roll out the Telehealth program in the Wimmera not just for cancer patients but also across wound health, respiratory health, breast care, stroke rehab and more.Dan Andrews Jenny Mikakos MP #SecurePCPsFuture
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Sunday, 13 October 2019

Ngar Thanks PCP
Wimmera PCP played a big part in getting the Rural Outreach Program up and running, aided by our strong partnerships and reach across the Wimmera. The Rural Outreach Program has now worked with over 100 clients who were having a tough time and helped them navigate the appropriate health and community services to help them move forward with their life.Dan Andrews Jenny Mikakos MP #SecurePCPsFuture
Posted by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership on Thursday, 17 October 2019

Hansard

16 October 2019: Questions without notice and ministers statements (Ms Crozier, Ms Mikakos)
16 October 2019: Motions (health funding) (Ms Crozier, Ms Mikakos, Mrs McArthur, Ms Stitt, Ms Bath, Ms Garrett)
15 October 2019: Members statements (Ms Crozier)
12 September 2019: Questions without notice and ministers statements (Ms Crozier, Ms Mikakos, Mr Davis)
12 September 2019: Adjournment (Ms Bath)
12 September 2019: Written responses to questions without notice
12 September 2019: Adjournment (Ms Crozier)
12 September 2019: Written responses to questions without notice
11 September 2019: Adjournment (Mr Ondarchie)
11 September 2019: Adjournment (Mr Finn)
11 September 2019: Adjournment (Mr Davis)
11 September 2019: Adjournment (Ms Crozier)
10 September 2019: Questions without notice and ministers statements (Ms Crozier, Ms Mikakos)